Impact Expeditions Since 1999

Thailand General Information

You should make photocopies of your passport and birth
certificate. You could make copies of your international
drivers license, vaccination and Insurance papers. Keep the
copies in a different place than your originals.

You could also list of serial numbers of your travelers
checks, air tickets, emergency phone, fax numbers and e-mails
for your home and family. Write down the contact information
for your embassy or consul. Here is a list of embassies.

Credit cards, travelers checks, US Dollars in good condition
and Euros are accepted in Thailand.

Banks and Currency Exchanges: Bank currency exchange booths
are normally open seven days a week, 8 am to 8 pm or later, as
are most shops and attractions! Actual banks are open 8.30 am
to 3.30 pm Monday to Friday. Use a bank currency exchange
booth instead of a booth that simply says "Exchange" as you
will get a better rate.

Safeguarding your documents

Thievery is not a huge problem in Thailand, but does exist.
Common sense safeguards, like you would use at home, is
usually all you need to follow. A very popular place to leave
them is hanging off the back of a chair. Look before you
leave.

Seal your valuables in a number of smaller envelopes. Use
tape in addition to sealing the envelope with the envelope's
glue. It is nearly impossible to break this seal. This system
is fairly foolproof.

If you are traveling with a partner, keep your own travelers
checks. Don’t put all of them together.

Bangkok Airport

In the Arrivals Hall of Don Muang International Airport there
is a TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) which offers tourist
information and a Thai Hotel Federation office for hotels. The
standard, choice and quality of Hotels are first / world class
and great value for money. 'Taxi Meter' taxis into the city
cost about B300+ per car, 24 hours a day. The Airport Bus
costs B70 per person 5 am to 11 pm. Only a couple of the
budget airlines uses this airport now.

Here's info on the Suvarnabumi International Airport.
Be aware that there are many "black taxis", meaning illegal
taxis. You will likely be approached by various people as you
exit the main terminal asking if you want a taxi. They are
mostly operating illegally AND they are more expensive in many
cases than the commissioned operators. Go to a proper taxi
stand instead.

Local tips

Clothing: This is your holiday so you should travel as
comfortably as possible. Quality clothing may be bought
cheaply. Bring a few changes of clothes and buy more on
arrival. It is important in Thailand to be conservative in
your dress and manner. The Thais are an extremely modest
people and are very pleased when you respect their customs.
Only in tourist areas are short-sleeved t-shirts and long
shorts (not tight cycling shorts) just about acceptable.
Ladies should wear a bra. Have one outfit that looks smart in
case you are invited to someone's home.

Swim wear: Topless or nude sunbathing or swimming is
absolutely not acceptable. A one piece swimsuit for
ladies would be considered more polite, and in the countryside
the visitor should swim fully clothed. Please respect our Thai
customs!

Solo women travelers should have no problems; apply the same
code of common sense as at home. It is easy to travel alone
and can be more rewarding as you will probably meet more local
people!

Toilets in Thailand are western style and squat style. Water
is supplied rather than toilet paper as it is more hygienic.
If you want to use paper, do not throw it into the toilet, but
into the waste basket provided otherwise you will block the
plumbing. Take care of your valuables and ensure that they
don't fall down the toilet!! Don't forget your valuables in
the toilet.

Toiletries: It is possible to buy toiletries and other
western items in Thailand so buy them when you get here, they
cost the same as at home. Insect repellent should be bought on
arrival.

Bed linen: Most Guest Houses do not supply top sheets so
bring a sheet bag for your own comfort.

Language: Speak slowly and clearly so that you can be
understood. Learn to speak some Thai, buy a phrase book which
has Thai script, and bring a smile to someone's face.

Your feet: Never point your foot. Never pick up anything with
your toes. Never walk over food. Don't forget to take your
shoes off in a Thai house or in a temple. The head is the
highest part of the body, so resist the temptation to tousle a
person's hair, do not point with your feet at a Buddha image.
In a temple sit with your feet pointing away from the Buddha,
do not sit cross-legged. Do not stand over a monk and ladies
must not touch a monk or pass anything to him directly.

In the big cities such as Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai,
western customs are well-known and widely accepted. In rural
areas and upcountry, traditional customs and social behavior
are still used. Here are a few customs to keep in mind.

Thais greet each other with a 'wai', a prayer-like,
palms-together gesture, not a handshake. Generally, a younger
person "wais" an elder or senior person first, who will then
return the gesture. Even though most Thais are familiar with
the Western handshake, a ‘wai’ is always appreciated.

Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body,
literally and figuratively. Don't touch Thais on the head,
even playfully. If you accidentally touch someone's head,
offer an apology immediately.

Similarly, the foot is considered the lowest part of the
body. Don't use your feet to point at either people or
objects. Don't touch anyone with your feet. Don't rest your
feet on tables or chairs. Don't step over people – always walk
around or politely ask them to move. When sitting on the
floor, try to tuck your feet underneath and to the side so
they’re not pointing at anyone.

When handing objects to people, use both hands or the right
hand only. Do not slide or toss objects across the room. Get
up and pass them in person, no matter how inconvenient this
may seem.

Public displays of affection are frowned upon. Some Thai
couples may be seen holding hands, but this is the extent of
public affection in polite society. Kissing in public is not
acceptable behavior.

In Thai society, losing your temper or even speaking loudly
is a sign of poor breeding. Keeping or saving 'face' is of
paramount importance. Never raise your voice or show anger, it
will get you nowhere. Keeping cool, hiding your emotions, and
smiling is far more productive.

Warning: Be careful of touts and taxis who try to take you to
buy gems and silk of low quality at inflated prices. When
traveling by taxi, be clear about where you want to go, some
taxis get a commission so they may try to persuade you to go
to a place other than your original destination.

Healthcare

Thailand is a very modern and efficient country, we know you
will be very pleasantly surprised at the ease with which you
can travel and generally enjoy your holiday, this is one of
the fastest developing country in South East Asia. Health and
dental care is excellent and inexpensive. You will find first
class spotlessly clean hospitals with internationally trained
doctors, new sterile needles are standard, all medicines are
available and patients are treated to exceptional care and
attention!

Keep in mind that these "authorities" said that there would
be as many deaths from disease after the tsunami than those
that died due to the tsunami. That didn't happen at all. The
Thai government, NGOs, locals and expats provided mountains of
water bottles, tons of food and shelter within hours of the
disaster.

Malaria is rare in southern Thailand, but it does exist.
Dengue Fever is a minor threat. Common sense goes a long way
here. Put bug repellent on during the twilight hours. The
accommodations that Paddle Asia uses all offer either mosquito
netting or screened windows.

Please let us know if there are any other tips you would like
us to include in this page which you would have found useful
traveling in Thailand.

Without a doubt, one of the most dangerous things you could
possibly do in Thailand is rent a motorcycle. Traffic laws are
loosely enforced and locals regularly run red lights and turn
without looking first.

Plus, as a foreigner if you have an accident it's most likely
your fault, not always of course, but most likely.

Car rental agencies all say that they have insurance for the
car, but in reality not all of them do. If you have an
accident with a local, it's your fault. You will likely have
to pay for the repairs on your vehicle and on the other
person's as well.

The Thai Royal Family

The King and Queen of Thailand are revered for their great
wisdom and for being 'in touch' with their subjects. Most of
the projects in Thailand that help the poor and to protect
Nature are initiated by the Royal Family.

No disrespect should be shown them, so, for example, if you
drop a coin, do not step on it. It has the King’s face on one
side.

Negative remarks about the monarchy are considered lese
majeste. This is a crime which carries severe punishment in
Thailand. This applies to His Majesty the King of Thailand
and the entire Royal Family.

The National Anthem is usually played at 8:00 AM, 6:00 PM
daily and before cinema movies, theatre performances or sports
events. You should stand respectfully and stop doing whatever
you were doing when you hear the National Anthem. Just watch
what the locals do and copy them. Some places don't stop what
they're doing.

Religion

It's best not to insult the Buddhist religion or any other
religion in any way. It is a criminal offence to insult
Buddhism in Thailand. This means you should conduct yourself
properly in temples or any location containing religious
images.

All Buddha images, large or small, are considered sacred.
Don't climb atop or pose for photos in front of images of the
Buddha!

Always dress neatly in temples – shorts and sleeveless shirts
are considered inappropriate. Even if no one tells you that
you can't enter a temple because of your dress, you should
take care not to enter if you are not dressed like the Thais
you see entering the temple. You should not wear shoes inside
a temple. It is acceptable to wear shoes in the temple
compound.

Monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman. A
woman wishing to present something to a monk or novice should
first place it on a piece of cloth, this can then be retrieved
by the monk.

In a Muslim mosque, men should wear hats and women should be
well-covered with slacks or a long skirt, a long-sleeved
blouse buttoned to the neck, and a head-scarf.

Basically, watch what the locals are doing and imitate them.

Electricity

The standard electricity supply in Thailand is 220V, 50
cycles. Electricity sockets are usually of the flat or round
two-pin type but there is a trend towards earthed three-pin
outlets in many modern buildings.

Adapters and voltage converters for any international plug
type are available at hardware stores and most department
stores.